2021 Forest River R Pod problems: recalls, complaints and what to check
NHTSA has 0 recalls and 8 owner complaints on file for the 2021 Forest River R Pod. Here is what they are, what a technician checks for each kind of fault, and how to look one over before you buy it.
Other: 5 complaints
Axles, brakes, suspension and hitch: 1 complaint
What a tech checks: Bearings, brake magnets, worn shackle bolts and bent axles. A trailer that wears tires on the inside edge or pulls to one side usually has an axle or suspension problem. Before you buy: Bolts tight, springs not flat, brakes apply with the breakaway pin pulled.
Chassis and towing lessons · Trailer guide
Tires: 1 complaint
What a tech checks: Age, load range and pressure. RV tires age out before they wear out, and an underrated tire on a heavy trailer is a blowout waiting to happen. Before you buy: Read the DOT date and the load range on the sidewall.
Chassis, towing and tires lessons · Trailer guide
Doors, windows, steps and lights: 1 complaint
What a tech checks: Mostly adjustments and wear: steps that stop halfway on a bad switch, doors out of alignment after a slide shifted, exterior lights with a corroded ground. Before you buy: Every door, lock, window and light.
Structure, roof and leaks: 1 complaint
What a tech checks: Roof sealant, seams, window and slide seals, and the frame. Water intrusion shows up as delamination, soft floors and stained ceilings months after the leak started. Before you buy: Press the sidewalls and walk the floor; look at every seam and seal.
Roof, leaks and body lessons · Seals and leaks guide
What owners reported to NHTSA
11/18/2021, UNKNOWN OR OTHER: On Sep 17th, while coming off a 2,000 mile road trip to Yosemite, the rhino rack with tent and awning ripped off my No Bo 10.6 trailer, did 4 frisbee turns in the air and came crashing down into the fast lane of I93 between Las Vegas and Kingman. The weight alone (roughly 500 lbs.) would've killed anyone driving behind me. Luckily it didn't and skidded into the emergency lane. The lack of concern from the manufacture
09/15/2022, SERVICE BRAKES: RV TRAILER NO BRAKES BRAND NEW TRAILER, WE DROVE SHORT DISTANCE FROM THE DEALERSHIP THEN WE BROUGHT THE TRAILER RIGHT BACK TO THE DEALERSHIP THE SAME DAY. WE LEFT THE TRAILER A THE DEALERSHIP FOR ONE WEEK, THEY SAID THEY REPAIRED IT AND WE CAN COME PICK UP OUR NEW TRAILER. USED THE TRAILER THREE TIMES SINCE THE BRAKES WERE SAID TO HAVE BEEN REPAIRED, AND APPEARED TO BE WORKING AFTER THE REPAIR, BUT BRAKING WAS UNEV
08/26/2020, UNKNOWN OR OTHER: WORKING WITH ONE OF THE LATEST FAILURES I THINK WE HAVE POTENTIALLY IDENTIFIED THE CAUSE OF THE 195/196 R-POD FROM WINDOW FAILURES. IT IS NOT FROM ROCKS OR ROAD HAZARDS. TEMPERED GLASS DOES NOT NORMALLY BREAK THE WAY IT HAS BEEN ON THE 195/196 R-PODS FRONT WINDOWS; THIS TYPE OF BREAKAGE IS GENERALLY CAUSED BY STRESS IN THE GLASS NOT SOMETHING LIKE A ROCK STRIKE. WHEN I INSPECTED MY WINDOW AND FRAME, I FOUND ON
07/18/2022, TIRES: This is on a Travel Trailer (TT) with less than 5500 miles on these tires. ST225/75R 15. I was towing my TT down the highway all of a sudden the tire on the drivers side blew. It was like an explosion. It tore the metal fender and caused damage to the underside of the TT. Once the spare was put on I continued driving until all of a sudden the passenger side tire blew. Sounded exactly the same like an explosion c
06/20/2022, UNKNOWN OR OTHER: Front windshield shattered while driving down the freeway. It was not struck by a rock or debris. We didn't even hear it break (as you would if it was hit). We only discovered it after I noticed the slide-out was extending into the next lane. Apparently the wind going in the trailer was forcing out the slide-out. Luckily this was daytime and I could see it extending. Had it been at night and it continued to exten
05/16/2022, VISIBILITY/WIPER: The front window shattered. It was not involved in an accident. We do not believe it was hit by a rock. We had only driven a short distance from our last stop when we entered the trailer and noticed it. We were able to have it crash wrapped so we were able to drive the trailer home. We reported it to Forest River who says it is not a design or components issue although a number of other R-Pod trailer owners have repo
Looking at a 2021 Forest River R Pod?
The Buyer's Check walks you through it on your phone: what to ask, the outside walk-around, water damage, every system on every power source, with the recalls above built in. You get a report that says what's a walk-away and what to negotiate on.
Checked against NHTSA 2026-10-23. Recall repairs are free at an authorized dealer. Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA and are not verified.